New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-05-18
PROFESSOR CHARLES.
RY FLoRINE THAyER M'cRAy1

1t Was the night before the sum mer
vacation at the old Bradford Female
Seminary. Studies and recitations
had been carried on with some difficult
ty and irregularity during the day,
and a glympse into the double room
"444'' would have shown the astonish-
ed principal that the. girls were MAX
ing a night OF it as only boarding
school girls know how to do. Water
proof cloaks darkened the windows,
a line of jaunty wraps ofvarious styles
hung up and down the cracks in the
doorway, and d dark shawl spread and
tackled carefully over the transom pre-
vented any ray OF light penetrating the
dark hall after the bell should have
rung with all the young ladies sup
posed to be in bed. It was half-past
nine, and, in anticipation of the pro-
voking and quite inexcusable custom
Of the ms titution which shut off the
gas from the halls promptly at ten,
numerous candles mostly reduced to
stubs and placed in the noses OF black
ing bottles and small vases, burned be-
lore the mirrors Of the dressingrcases
and on the little book-shelves and
windoW-sills. Eleven girls, in various
conditions of toilet, arranged entirely
to suit the taste OF the wearers, sat
about the room, and while prepara-
lions for a feast were evidently COM
plete, they waited.
"Well," said Jennie Benis, who sat
on the floor with her plump little
hands clasped about her knees, shak-
ing her closely cropped curly head i'm
patiently, "this is a little too much!
Now that we have everything ready
for a lovely time, Ben must go and
-ah! absent herself
This remark, finishing with perfect
imitation OF the most precise of their
teachers, raised general giggle, which
was speedily suppressed by whisper
ed-"Sh!' Do you want sPrisms' her
self to knock at the door,"
cit is a cruel sin for Ben to stay
away like this said pretty Kitty
Glazier, who sighed, and then pro-
ceeded to fish small piece of
candied ginger out of the lar
with a hairpin. This sweet morsel
she was munching penslvely, unnoticed
by the girls who lounged around, I'M
til Fan Kendall saucy, red-haired
nymph, who lay upon the bed, her
arms folded under her bright head -
suddenly cried out in remonstrance:
exit, think you might wait for
the rest OF us! 1t is bad enough to
see all these things spelling for want
OF eating, without you picking
around"
Fan pouted, and as she arose to a
sitting posture continued: s'Now,
what's to be done! We have waited
for Ben one hour. If she chooses to
keep away, I move that we GO on
without herl7'
owe might wait fifteen minutes long
Ell" said Florence Hea!y, a tail, dark
haired girl, who sat in the rocking
chair, in a white wrapper, and sup
ported the dignity becoming the presi-
dent Of the secret society of "The
Mystic Twelve which, lacking
member, were there assembled. eve
cannot very well open the door, or
Sue might go and look for her." She
looked inquiringly at the Others.
"No, no! 'Prisms'' would be sure to
90 ch ri. ~, 0E 1i1b
"and-I am surprised! At this hour,
young LADIES' : again giving an inimit-
able representation OF the manner of
Miss Perrin, irreverently dubbed
g Prisms" by the girls. just then a
muff1ed knock, repeated .hree times,
was heard at the door. There was a
general stir. s.Ah! there is Ben at
.last!"
What can have kept. you away I'M
til this time?' they cried. 1--WE have
been waiting full hour!''
A petite figure, with curling brown
hair, which was disheveled and part
awry; a pair ofbrown eyes which we're
large with mixed emotions and weari-
ness: and a bright flush on the fair
cheeks-this was Ben as she slipped In
to the room and threw herself down
on the tumbled bed with despairing
gesture.
Don't speak to me! Don't say a
world she cried. m almost dead.
/ thought should have tainted away!
Oh, how my back achesp' But she
soon arose, and tossing back her thick
bang with a quick hand, looked about
the group OF impatient girls with
face full OF mysterious import, and
asked, with a touch OF her forefnger
on the knee of the nearest: Where
do you suppose I have been for the
last mortal hour?''
I'm e VS. study, getting lecture
for Laughing at prayers"
In the mushroom, receiving
proposal OF marriage from Professor
Charles"
The last sally provoked loud
litter, for Ben had taken it upon